Anyone that has ever had the unpleasant experience of having a muscle spasm knows how painful it is and a neck muscle spasm is no different. A neck muscle spasm is an involuntary tight muscle contraction that causes a person to experience severe neck pain. There are many causes and treatments for severe neck pain.

Severe neck pain is often the result of strained neck muscles caused by things such as intense exercises, degenerative changes from repetitive movements and trauma. The cervical spine, unlike the rest of your spine, only has a small amount of ligaments and muscles for protection. Conditions that have an adverse affect on the muscles and tendons often cause severe neck pain. If the joints narrow between the neck bones, caused by immune system attack, prolonged wear and tear or trauma, then the vertebrae in the neck grind together, creating stress and pressure on localized tendons, muscles, and nerves. This often causes severe neck pain and other symptoms such as arm, shoulder, and hand pain.

Some of several symptoms of severe neck pain include rupture of a disk or muscular strain from trauma. Many neck pain symptoms, unlike severe neck pain, develop slowly. Some people experience neck tenderness or stiffness in the morning or after watching television, reading, or working on their computer. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause the bodyâ€™s immune system or natural defenses to attack a personâ€™s joints and bones. Over time, the rheumatoid arthritis destroys body and neck joints causing stiffness and severe pain to the neck and other parts of the body. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease commonly affecting people over forty, can involve not only the neck joint but also other body joints. Neurological diseases such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinsonâ€™s disease can cause stiffness or weakness of the neck muscles resulting in strain on the necks structures and muscles, resulting in severe neck pain.

Treatment for severe neck pain or chronic neck pain can vary depending upon the case. Some people find acupressure and acupuncture helps the muscles relax, which reduces their neck pain. For severe neck pain, doctors sometimes recommend strong anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and painkillers. Anti-inflammatory drugs taken orally or by injection are usually only recommended in severe neck pain cases because serious side effects, such as infections, bone thinning, and internal bleeding can occur. Some doctors may recommend an over-the-counter drug that has few side effects but often reduce stiffness and discomfort for people suffering from mild neck pain. Never take any medication or start a neck exercise program without talking to your doctor first.

A physical therapist, or physiotherapist, uses both manual therapy as well as mechanical or electrical therapy to aid a patient’s recovery process and prevention. They use a number of physiotherapy equipment to reduce and relieve pain, repair the joint and muscle, and to make the patient more comfortable during his or her visit.

A physiotherapy chair, bed, couch, or table is among the various type of physiotherapy equipment. This is generally a flat cushioned bench with cushioned head support and two to seven adjustable sections. The sections adjust to lay the patient completely flat on the back, or stomach, or can be folded into different degrees to become a chair or exercise table. The physiotherapist uses this to keep the patient comfortable while examining and diagnosing. It is also used while the patient performs specific exercises, or for massage therapy.

For exercise a physical therapist might bring in hand and leg weights, elastic bands, and exercise balls as part of their physiotherapy equipment. A balance ball chair is a large air filled ball securely attached to a small stool set on rollers with back support. The client may use this type of equipment for exercises that require support for less strain on the spine and back.

To relieve pain, acute and chronic, physiotherapy equipment such as a TENS, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, system may be used. A TENS unit provides the patient with temporary pain relief without the added use of drugs, narcotics, or painful shots. The attachments are set on the skin over the affected area where the machine sends tiny electrical currents, or pulses to the nerves. The pulses scramble and block pain signals before they reach the brain and are said to raise the level of endorphins produced by the brain. Portable versions come as battery operated handheld devices.

Often included in a physical therapist’s physiotherapy equipment arsenal are items used in electrotherapy and ultrasound. Ultrasound devices generally consist of a round handheld wand, or probe. This probe is placed on the patient’s skin with the use of ultrasound gel to transmit ultrasonic waves through the skin. The vibration of the tissues produce heat that helps reduce pain while relaxing and repairing muscle tissue. Ultrasound can also produce a pulse for tissue relaxation when heat is not desired. Ultrasound can also be used to give medications that are needed below the skin. Usually used for patients unable to take needle injections. Often ultrasound wands come attached to a large electronic device connected to a cart.

Each physical therapist has her or his own method of treatment. These examples are just some of a long list of physiotherapy equipment used to treat patients.

Upper back pain can strike any one of us at any time. Although it can be caused by a few different things such as ligament problems, in most cases, it’s caused by a muscle being pulled, stretched or strained. Possible causes of upper back pain may be overuse of certain muscles, lack of strength, or trauma as one would receive in a car or sports accident. Upper back pain treatment will usually revolve around helping the muscles once again relaxed. Upper back pain will usually show up as a pain in or near the shoulder blade as well as movement restrictions.

Upper back pain is also referred as thoracic pain or middle back pain. It is called ‘thoracic’ because it’s thoracic spine, which is located in that area. Upper back pain is also felt between the lumbar spine and the bottom of the neck. Massage is often used as an upper back pain treatment and will sometimes give relief quickly. However, if the problem is not in the muscles, medical treatment should be given to determine if there is a more serious problem.

For muscular problems in the upper back, exercise and light physical therapy often are helpful as upper back pain treatment. At the onset of the problem, ice is stilled the recommended upper back pain treatment to avoid swelling and inflammation. Many people choose to see a chiropractor for treatments. Although there are still many that don’t believe in chiropractic manipulation, many people have been helped by their services. Pain medications are often used as part of the upper back pain treatment, although they are never used by themselves. They are recommended to be taken along with physical therapy or exercise.

If there is one specific area or spot, that is tender and painful, trigger point injections or massages are also a method of upper back pain treatment. Many doctors like this method because the medication is going to just the painful area and not throughout the entire body.

Occasionally, upper back pain is caused by the joints connecting the ribs and the vertebrae. In this case, the upper back pain treatment is chiropractic treatments, physical therapy and pain medications. A lot of this will depend on the severity of the pain.

Other causes of upper back pain may be herniated spinal disc, degenerative disc or fractured vertebrae. Fractured vertebra is quite common in women over the age of 50 due to osteoporosis. In these cases, medical treatment will be necessary to get prompt relief before further damage takes place.

If you have been suffering from chronic back pain, you are probably at your wit’s end looking for some sort of chronic back pain relief that will last. There are different types of treatment for this type of pain, but they may not all be right for you. If you see a doctor for the pain, your doctor will determine the best way to give you some chronic back pain relief. His decision on a treatment plan will be based on different factors such as your age, physical condition (besides the chronic back pain), life style, and location and severity of the pain.

Many times people are content to take pain medication for chronic back pain relief. Some people find themselves taking this medication for years rather than finding more permanent chronic back pain relief with a doctor’s help. There are many people that don’t like going to see a doctor, whether it’s an issue of the money, or just an inconvenience of their time. In such cases as this, they will often try every home remedy they can find. When they find little or no chronic back pain relief, they eventually end up going to see a doctor.

One of the first things the doctor will have to do is determine where the back pain is located. Most often people have chronic lower back pain, but this is not always the case. The doctor will look at your medical history to determine your life style and any possible medication allergies. Sometimes, the doctor will order an x-ray of your back to see if any obvious problem shows up. If nothing shows up on the x-ray, they will often give you a list of exercises to do for chronic back pain relief along with a recommendation to take over the counter medications. He may also give you a prescription for something for the pain.

If the back pain is not from a serious injury, the exercises, along with the medication, may help give you some chronic back pain relief. If not, you may find yourself going back to the doctor again. Often at this point, the doctor may order more in-depth tests such as MRI or some sort of ultrasound to determine if there is a more serious condition causing the chronic back pain. In some situations, surgery is the only treatment that will provide the long-term chronic back pain relief you need. The doctors usually don’t recommend surgery except as a last resort when every other method has failed. Many individuals will fight the idea of surgery as long as possible, only taking it when it’s the only answer for their chronic back pain relief. Some sufferers are content to take pain medication for the rest of their lives if it gives them relief, but doctors don’t usually go along with this idea long-term.

Back pains may cause intense pain, whether they are chronic or acute back pains, but they are still not considered as serious health disorders or ailments. When we have back pains, however, it can affect our entire daily routine. Back pain can be caused from many different things such as slipped disc, pinched nerve, a sprain in the muscles, the tissues, nerves or cartilage in the back. Strained muscles are the main cause of back pain.

There are many different kinds of treatments including physical therapy, surgery, pain medication, exercise and homeopathic back pain treatment.
Homeopathic back pain treatment, the use of natural methods such as herbs, vitamins and minerals, is becoming a choice for many as an alternative to the conventional treatment methods. Many of the supplements are used for lessening and eliminating the pain as well as helping the muscles, bones get stronger. Usually within a week of taking the supplements, the patient will begin to see some positive changes.

Some of the minerals and vitamins used to restore the strength to the cartilage and bones are magnesium, calcium, Vitamins C and D. These supplements should be taken on a regular basis not just for homeopathic back pain treatment, but also by anyone that is prone to back problems. Bromelain, which is an enzyme in pineapple, is effective in reducing inflammation and pain resulting from sports injuries, surgery and trauma to the back. Many hospitals use bromelain on their patients. Some other natural methods used in homeopathic back pain treatment are flaxseed, glucosamine and white willow. Flaxseed is used for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities, while white willow is good for pain relief and glucosamine as cartilage builder.

Homeopathic back pain treatment uses some supplements that are excellent as pain relievers such as amino acid methionine, S-adenosyl methionine, niacin and devil’s claw. These can also be taken with regular prescription pain relievers. Other homeopathic back pain treatment remedies use include:

â€¢ Aesculus-this is best used for patients that have lower back pain, especially in the sacrum region or those complaining of back stiffness.
â€¢ Berberis- this supplement is also used for lower back pain as well as pain that seems to shoot from the affected area to the hip or front of thighs. Patients that have pain that goes up and down the spine and may change in intensity will also benefit from the use of berberis for homeopathic back pain treatment.
â€¢ Natrum muriaticum is used in homeopathic back pain treatment where the patient is in a lot of pain along with having the area bruised. It’s also used in patients that complain about stiffness, numbness or tingling.
â€¢ Other popular remedies are ruta, sepia, calcarea fluorica and nux vomica.

Many of the homeopathic back pain treatments can be found at health stores.

If you have been a sufferer of chronic back pain for any length of time you have, no doubt, heard of methadone used for chronic back pain. You may have tried many different medications in your quest for good health. When doctors prescribe medications, they have no way of knowing if they will work to help you or what reactions your body may have from the drug. It is almost like a trial and error, with the doctor trying things until they find something that works well for you.

Methadone used for chronic back pain has a good success rate when used as prescribed. It is, however, a drug that is often misunderstood and, therefore, not prescribed that often. Methadone, also referred to as Dolophine, is a narcotic pain medication used for pain ranging from medium to severe. Besides hearing about methadone used for chronic back pain, it is also used for treating a patient with morphine addiction.

Methadone used for chronic back pain may be in the form of an oral medication of used in an IV form. When it’s given as an oral dosage, some of it is stored in the liver for a later time when it is used. When given in the form of an IV, it has much the same characteristics as heroin. One positive factor when you have methadone used for chronic pain is the sufferer is often capable of going about his normal active life without having cravings such as they would have if they were taking morphine for the pain. This is a main reason why many doctors and patients prefer methadone used for chronic back pain versus morphine.

Methadone has been used as a medication for detox purposes and because of this reputation, many doctors and patients are leery when they hear of methadone used for chronic back pain, in spite of it ability to help with the pain. You have to go to either a hospital or doctor’s office to get a prescription for the dosage of methadone used for chronic back pain. It is very good for this type of pain because it’s a long acting pain reliever as opposed to the types of pain relievers that only relieve pain on a temporary basis. This is why it is recommended more for chronic back pain instead of acute back pain. It stays in the system longer than many drugs so you wouldn’t want to use it for short term pain.

Patients that experimented with methadone used for chronic back pain claimed it was very successful when they realized what dosage their body required for pain relief.